p. 6

1072

-1232-
1864.

Lake Superior but fragments scattered over the country as far south as the middle of Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. These scattered fragments varying from a few ounces to one hundred pounds are associated with what geologists now call "Drift."

Hence we must for America discard the idea of great antiquity for the mound-builders on account of their not having advanced beyond the "stone age." Such an inference would be legitimate with you but not with us.

It is not to be supposed that implements of stone are of older date than those of flint, they belong together.

No markings or characters, resembling those you describe (pits with concentric circles) have been observed here.

Some animal remains have bee [been] found but they are mostly of kinds belonging to the present geological epoch.

I have recently attempted to trace the genealogy of the family of Lapham, and have succeeded so far as the 7th generation when one John Lapham a weaver came over from Devonshire and settled at Providence R.I. Do you happen to know of any person in England of that name either in the past or present time?

Yours very truly,

I.A. Lapham.

_______

Clifton House, Chicago, Apr. 29, '64

Dr. I.A. Lapham,

My dear Sir,-

Have you not some curiosity (pardon me, gentlemen have no curiosity), would you not like to know into whose hands your beautiful herbarium of mosses has been consigned?

Let me tell you the book has come back to me, who parted